Engraving-plate.



Patented Aug. 6, |901. J. H. ZEABING & T. MGWHURTEB.

ENGRAVING `PLATE. (Applicacion medsepf- 1a, 1900.)

www@ Zim I' UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JAMES I-IELMER ZEARING AND TYLER MCWI-IORTER, OF DES MOINES, IOVA.

ENGRAVING-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,815, dated August 6, 190i.

Application fnea septemter 13,1900. sain no. 29,893. (No model.)

To all whom, it Magnan/cern: A

Be it known that we, JAMES HELMER ZEAR- NG and TYLER MCWHORTER, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Des Moines, Polk county,Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engraving-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a novel half-tone plate adapted to be removably attached to a block or base by simply pressing it into place thereon. y

In the drawings, Figure l shows in perspective the novel plate mounted upon its block. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the plate before it is bent to bring certain integral anges into position. Fig. Sis a cross-section showing the plate upon the block with a certain underlay in place. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of parts seen in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 illustrates a common method of attaching a plate to its block.

The objects of our invention are to provide a satisfactory plate much lighter than has ordinarily been used-a plate such that the engraver can fit for attachment to the block without tools other than the simple ones used to cut thin metal and form lines in its surface and such that it can be instantly placed. upon the block or removed therefrom.

Heretofore it has been usual to employ a thick plate .I,Fig. 5, securing it to the block by tacks or the like passing through a rabbeted edge E, carefully planed out beforehand, so that it may be below the printingsurface. We use a plate no more than half the ordinary thickness, or only thick enough to give the necessary body and receive the etching. Before the etching score-lines O are scratched in the surface of the plate H, determining the limits of the printing-surface. This operation cuts through the enamel surface, so that when the plate is etched the score-lines are etched still deeper, and, in

fact, as deep as is necessary. After etching the plate is cut away at the four corners, Fig. 2, approximately on the score-lines extended, and the parts left Without thoselines are bent down to form slightly resilient flanges F in position to be forced down over the four edge faces of the block and hold the plate upon the block solely by frictional resistance to removal. In making ready underlay material P may be placed between the plate and the block, and the many adjust=V ments often needed are greatly facilitated by the complete freedom of the plate, whereby it may be instantly removed and replaced. Once the proper adjustment is made the plate and block may be used and removed as often as desired without readjustment.

What we claim is-V 1. An engraving-plate of thin metal provided with score-lines, having its four corners removed as shown, and having the remaining portions outside the score-lines bent at the score-lines to form flanges in position to frictionally engage the four sides of a block, substantially as set forth.

2. The process of forming an engravingplate which consists in marking score-lines upon a thin plate and etching them out simultaneously with the etching of the engraving, substantially as set forth.

3. The process of forming an engraving.- plate which consists in marking score-lines on a thin plate, etching out said lines simultaneously with the etching of the engraving, i

cutting out the four corners of the plate approximately on the score-lines extended, and bending down, approximately at right angles, the parts remaining without the score;r

lines. JAMES HELMER ZEARING.

TYLER MCWHORTER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR HAHNEN, FRANK HOOBIN. 

